The Shard: The £25 view that has to be priceless

If you have a head for heights, this is what you’ll see from the highest viewing platform situated 244m (800ft) up on London’s Shard.

It’s certainly eye-catching and so is the price you’ll pay.

Taking in 1,000 years of history and mile upon mile of London costs £24.95 for adults and £18.95 for children.

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

Visitors will be able to travel up UK’s tallest structure (Picture: Reuters)

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

The View from The Shard

By comparison, tickets for the London Eye start at £17. But then the riverside attraction is 358ft lower. Speaking at the preview opening of The View from The Shard, its chief executive Andy Nyberg said the views are priceless.

Vista: HMS Belfast seems a long way down from Level 72 of western Europe’s tallest building (Picture: Gretel Ensignia)

‘I think it’s the best view in the world,’ he said. ‘What you have is a building that is unobstructed by other buildings. You are standing in a 21st century structure across the river from an 11th century structure in the Tower of London. The historical tapestries are incredible.’

It appears his excitement is shared by the public, with the opening and second days on February 1 and 2 sold out.

Tickets have been on sale since July and Mr Nyberg said they had already sold tens of thousands.

‘I think that success will continue through the year,’ he said.

View from the Bridge: Rail lines stretch out into east London from the station (Picture: Gretel Ensignia)

Reaching the viewing galleries involves travelling in two lifts at 6m per second. Such is their speed that the wind whistles as they ascend.

The View is situated at the top of The Shard, on floors 68, 69 and 72.

Level 72 is partially open-air and surrounded by giant shards of glass that form the top of the building.